Handwriting

The school teaches a cursive style of handwriting that builds on the work of our partner infant school.  By the end of KS2, we want children to be able to write legibly, fluently and with increasing speed, and to be able to make decisions about when to join letters, selecting the writing implement most suited to a task.

All the basic joins should be taught by the end of Lower School. In Years 3 and 4, children will receive weekly taught handwriting lessons.  During these lessons, a range of strategies will be used to model and practise skills. Children complete their handwriting in exercise books with tramlines to support with the sizing of letters. 

In Years 5 and 6, the children apply their handwriting skills in all written work, aiming to develop a personal, fluent style.

In Year 3 and for the majority of Year 4, most children will write in pencil.  As soon as children demonstrate, fluent, joined handwriting in all writing, they will receive a pen from then on will write in pen.  On entry to Year 5, all children will be given a pen in order to practise and embed skills in readiness for their transition to secondary school. Blue ink pens are used across the school.